Differential clutch mechanism for automobiles.



No 849,474. PATBNTED APR. 9, 1907.

F. W. HEDGBLAND. A DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

AFPLIOATION FILED SEPT.17.1906.

j i znlarz FREDERICK \V. l EDGELAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application tiled September 17,1906. Serial No. 334.845.

'1'0 (l /t Ii mm lit/w molten/'11 Be it known that 1, Fnnnninon W. llnncn LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Qhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clutch Mechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of the clutching i'nechanisin employed for transmitting power from the motor to. the driving wheels or axles of automobiles. The mechanism of the invention is adapted to transmit like power to both axles or wheels when moving ahead to permit either wheel to overrun when turning corners and to insure engagement of both clutches when both wheels overrun. The construction also permits the employment of the motor in braking or retarding the wheels when moving down hill and possesses great simplicity and strength and is easily applied to existing automobiles The nature of the invention is fully set forth below and illustrated in the aceom panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the driving wheels and axles of an automobile to which my invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the clutch mechanism; and Figs. 3 and '1'. are sections on the lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2.

In said drawings, 7 and e are the axles of the driving-wheels 9 and 10. The inner ends of the axles to which the clutchmechanism is applied preferably come together, as shown, and are supported in any suitable way--ns, for instance, by the bearings 11 and 12 in the stationary parts 13 and 14 of the automobile. The clutch mechanism-is double, one part for each axle, and will now be described. A ring 15, having sprocket-teeth 16 formed thereon, adapted to receive power from the endsofthe two shafts and is provided with two interior inclined friction-surfaces 17 and 18, one for each clutch. At one side of the ring 15 is a cup-shaped member 19, having an interior inclined friction-surface 20, and at the other side of the ring is a similar cupshaped member 21, having an interior inclined,;friction-surface The surfaces 17 and 22 incline in one direction and the surfaces 18 and 20 incline in the opposite direction. Both cup-shaped members are provided with sleeves 28, fitting the aides and motor of the machine, encircles the abutting inclosed by the bearings 11 and 12. The ring and the clutch members 19 and 21 form the non-shifting members of the clutches, and

! they are also the dri g members thereof 69 and within which the moving parts of the clutch may be located.

The ends of the axles are squared for a short distance, as shown, and upon thes quare portions threaded screw -sections 25 a d 26 are fitted with freedom to slide a slight distance.

These screw-sections are threaded in opposite directions and engage threads formed on the interior surfaces of the driven clutch members 27 and 28, the outer surfaces of each of said clutch-(hiv'en members being provided with inversely-inclined friction-surfaces, so that one is adapted to oppose the surfaces 17 and 20, and the other is adapted to oppose the surfaces 18 and 22. The

clutch-driven members 27 and 28 have a o turning it with both their respective opposing surfaces, so that they are adapted-to receive motion from either surface whenever the screw exerts power toward it.

The screw-sections are furnished with 5 thrust-collars 29, rigidly secured and acting to contact with the members 19 and 21, and thus to sustain the end thrust coming on the screw-sections, and also acting to stop the screw-sections from running in too far when 0 either member overruns. In each cupshaped member is inserted a tension-ring 30, attached to the adjacent shifting or driven member by a )in 31, loosely fitting the member, so that t ie ring travels around the axis 5 with the clutch member and retards the latter sufficiently to cause shifting action by the corresponding screw-section. The inner ends of the shafts abut, as clearly shown, and

their outer ends are provided in the cusioo tomary manner with means for sustaining thrust, so that they. are mutually thrust-susmining. i

As drawn the machine is driving forward,

the clutch members 27 and 28 en aging the sin-laces 17 and 18, and the shiftmg screwsections are forced away from one another, carrying their thrust-collars 29 29 against the inner walls of the parts 19 and 21. In case either shaft overruns the scrcw-section on the 1 IO squared portion-"of that shaft moves inward until the inner shoulder of its thrust-collar also releasing automatically driven memoer overruns 'reengaging when both driven members overdriven member, one of said members shifting and engaging the other automatically in either direction, and releasing itself automat ica llywhen overrunning, and also acting with the non-shifting member as a brake when the engine is throttled.-

12. The combination of the driving members and the driven members engaging automatieally and driving in either direction, when either and automatically run so that the motorv may as a brake.

1.3. An automatic clutch embod ing driv-. ing members and driven members, 0th having opposing friction-surfaces brought into contact by the shifting of the driven members so as todrive in either direction, each of said driven men'ibers releasing automatically whenever itoverruns, and both reengaging when they overrun at the same time, and means for shifting the driven members.

" 14. An automatic clutch embodying driving members and driven members, both the driving members and the driven members having opposing. friction-surfaces brought into contact by the shifting of the driven members so as to drive in either direction,- each ofsaid driven members releasing auto maticaliy whenever it overruns, and both reengaging when they overrun at the same time, and tension mo ans acting on the shifting members and causing themto shift.

15. An automatic elu tch embodying driving members and driven members, the latter being threaded interiorly and engaging with shifting screw-sections mounted upon the then be utilized I both directions and permitting either or to permit either shafts, the members having friction-surfaces adapting them to communicate 'power in both directions and to release either driven member which may overrun, and means whereby the driven ".cinbers after being released, may be caused to turn upon sai threads and shift into engagement with the driving members.

16. The combination with shafts to be driven, of differential clutch mechanism mounted on the shafts and having shifting driven members controlled in shifting by the shafts, said mechanism acting shafts to overrun in either direction.

17. The combination with the driven shafts, of a differential friction-clutch mechanism mounted thereon and controlled by longitudinal movements received from the shafts, and acting to positively drive the shafts in either direction and to permit the shafts to overrun in either direction and to reengage when both overrun at the same time.

18. The combination with the driven shafts, of-a differential friction-clutch mechanism mounted thereon, and opened and closed by longitudinal movements caused by the shafts, said clutch mechanism acting to positively drive the shafts in both directions,

shaft to overrun, and to permit them to reengago when both overrun at the same time.

FREDERICK W. HEDGELAND.

Witnesses H. M. Mommy,

WILLIAM A. GEIGER.

ositively 1n both 

